Brick-machine



(No Model.)

J. TEMPEST. BRICK MAQHINE.

Patented Feb. 2,1897.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

J OI-IN TEMPEST, OF COURTNEY, PENNSYL IANIA.

BRICK-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATON forming part'of Letters Patent No. 576,239, dated February2, 1897. Application led July 8, 1896. Serial No. 598,397. (No model.)

To if/ZZ whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN TEMPEs'r, a resident of Courtney, in t-hecounty of Washington and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new anduseful Improvement in Brick-Machines; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to the manufacture of bricks, tiles, the.

In one of the processes now com mouly employed for the manufacture ofbricks or tiles an iron mold open at both ends is employed, withreciprocating plunger-s adapted to enter said mold from both ends,whereby the clay within the mold is pressedto conform to the shape ofsaid mold. A board is supported on the lower plunger, so that when thebrick has been pressed and the upper plunger raised the lower plungerwill raise the board carrying the brick to the upper end of the mold,

when said board is lifted from the plunger..

The brick thus formed is then dumped from said board onto a suitabledrying-floor. Owing to the pressure which has been brought to bear uponthe clay in the mold to compact it and press it into the form of abrick, the clay will adhere closely to the board, so that when it isdesired to free said brick from the board great diiculty is experiencedin freeing said brick without in some measure injuring the shape ofsame. The clay adheres so closely to the wood that it is necessary toshake or jar the brick severely in releasing it from the board. If thebricks are allowed to remain on the boards until they are dry,

they are liable to crack on their bottom faces in the process of drying.This is due to the fact that being pressed so close to the boards thebottom portionsof said bricks are not permitted to contract as freely asthe upper, and consequently cracks are the result of this unequalcontraction. Attempts have been made to obviate this by securing a metalplate to the upper surface of the board in order to present a smoothersurface, but even then the brick would stick. The manufacture of bricksor tiles by this process, therefore, has been attended with great loss,while at the same time it has been impossible to count on a brick ofperfect shape.

The object of my invention is to provide means whereby the bricks can bereadily released from the boards Without shaking or jarring the same insuch way as to mar their shape.

My invention consists, generally stated, in

lplacing a temporary bottom composed of a plate of metal or othersuitable material on a portable board within the mold, compressing theclay upon said plate, removing said plate while the brick is still inthe mold, whereupon the brick drops onto the board below. The brick thusrests lightly upon the board, having been already pressed to shape, sothat when the board is lifted and carried away said brick can be easilydisL charged from said board onto the drying-Hoor without in the leastdestroying its shape.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I willdescribe the same more fully, referring to the accompanying drawings, inWhich- Figure l is a perspective View of suitable apparatus for carryingout my invention. '75

Fig. 2 is a vertical section showing the brick being compressed. Fig. 3is a like view showing the plate removed and the lower plunger raisedwith the brick resting on the board. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the plate.

Like letters indicate like parts in each of the figures.

As the manner of operating the plungers and the mechanism form no partof my invention, I have not deemed it necessary to illustrate ordescribesuch apparatus in detail.

The mold a is an ordinary rectangular castiron mold, open at both ends.Supported above the mold a on the frame bis the reciprocating plunger C,conforming in shape to the mold a and adapted to enter same from theupper end. Beneath the mold Ct is the reciprocating plunger cl, alsoconforming to the shape of the said mold and adapted to enter samefrombelow. Resting upon the plunger d is the portable board or support e,preferably oak.

Formed in the front wall of the mold et is the slot f, adapted toreceive the plate g, which may be formed of metal or other suit ablematerial and which acts as a temporarv bottom for the mold. Vhen theplunger d is lowered, the plate g rests upon the portable support c. Toprovide for the insertion or withdrawal of the plate g, said plate issecured to the lever h, pivoted at its lower end, so that by graspingthe upper end of said lever and moving it back and forth said plate isinserted or withdrawn.

The apparatus being in the position shown in Fig. l, the plastic clay orcomposition from which the bricks are to bc formed is introduced intothe mold a. This clay falls upon the temporary bottoni or plate g. Theplunger c is then lowered and the clay is compressed to form the brickin the mold. The operator then grasps the lever 7L and withdraws theplate g. This permits the brick to drop onto the support c.. Just assoon as the plate g has been withdrawn the plunger c is raised, and atthe same time the plunger d. The plunger d raises the support e,carrying the newly-formed brick, resting lightly thereon, to theposition shown in Fig. 3. The portable support is then removed and thebrick can be easily discharged therefrom onto the drying-floor.

By the use of my invention there is no liability of the brick adheringto the board when it is dumped therefrom, but as the brick has beenpressed on the plate and the plate withdrawn the brick does not haveopportunity to stick to the board. More perfect bricks can be formed bythe use of my invention and all waste is practically avoided.

While my invention is applicable to all forms of bricks, yet it is ofspecial advantage where employed for forming bricks and tiles forsteelfurnaces.

Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

l. In brick-making apparatus, the combination of a mold, a removableplate, means for compacting the clay on said plate within v able plateon said support, substantially as set forth.

4. In brick-making apparatus, the combination of a mold open at bothends, plungers adapted to enter said Inold from each end, a support onthe lower plunger, and a sliding plate on said support, substantially asset forth.

5. In brick-making apparatus, the combination of a mold open at bothends and having a slot formed in its walls, a sliding plate fitting insaid slot, plungers adapted to enter said mold from each end, and asupport on the lower plunger, substantially as set forth.

6. In brick-making apparatus, the combination of a mold open at bothends and having a slot formed in its walls, a sliding plate fitting insaid slot, a lever connected to said plate, plungers adapted to entersaid mold from cach end, and a support on the lower plunger,substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I, the said JOHN TEMPEsT, have hereunto set myhand.

JOHN TEMPEST.

IVitn esses:

ROBERT C. ToT'rEN, WALTER FAMARIss.

